GOOD MORNING FRANKLIN COUNTY

By Staff
Today is Friday, December 3, 2004. It is now only 22 days until Christmas. Expect partly cloudy skies today with a high of 54 degrees. On this day in history:
1621 – Galileo perfects the telescope.
1828 – Andrew Jackson is elected as our 7th president.
1947 – "A Streetcar Named Desire" debuts on Broadway.
1967 – The first heart transplant is performed in Cape Town, South Africa, by Dr. Christian Barnard. The recipient lived 18 days after the surgery.
1984 – A gas leak from a Union Carbide plant in India becomes the world's worst industrial disaster. As a result of the accident, 3,800 people die and almost 3,000 are permanently disabled.
1988 – Barry Sanders wins the Heisman Trophy.
FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS CONTINUE
This week it's the semi-finals of the state high school football playoffs and the Russellville Golden Tigers will be at home to face the Athens Golden Eagles. The winner goes to Birmingham to play for the state title at the Hoover Met on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 3 p.m.
MALL MADNESS
Yes, I was there in that after Thanksgiving shopping madness last Friday and Saturday. I just love to watch people and listen to people talk while they are shopping, especially during a hectic time of year A few years ago I saw two sisters almost get into a fist fight in K-Mart because one said the other was ruining her holiday spirit. While I did not witness any acts of violence this year, I did hear and see some pretty amazing stuff last week.
…. A lady in Dillards was chasing after her preschool son who was pretending to be Batman. The little boy had on a Tennessee sweat suit along with a Batman hood and cape. Tennessee might need Batman's help tomorrow against Auburn.
…. A man sitting on a bench at the mall was asked by his son how long his mother would continue shopping. "Until daddy's money runs out," said the frustrated dad.
…. A mother walking at a hurried pace told her child, "You just ate 7 hours ago!"
CHECK YOUR LIST
If you are still looking for a few gift ideas the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce has put together some suggestions for that person who is hard to please. Now keep in mind the giver of these gifts must have a slightly larger than average wallet so if that describes you then let's go shopping.
First, if the person on your list needs some transportation then how about an armored Humvee complete with a hot tub for only $250,000. If it's a sports car you are looking for then check out a 2005 Gemballa Porsche 996 GTR Gullwing for a mere $350,000. Airplanes are not on the hot list this year but a land-sea-air Hydrofoil powered by natural gas is a big item at just $4.5 million.
A few other suggestions include a Faberge chess set for $12.5 million, a seven-gem collection of diamonds for $21.5 million, and for the person who has everything, a 17th century English estate and entire village for $90 million.
If those things seem a bit unpractical then why not consider a new pet this Christmas. The duPont Registry is offering the ultimate protector, a German shepherd that is pre-trained to its new owner's lifestyle and familiar with the family before it ever sets foot, er paw, in the house. The dog is a deal at only $100,000!
AND FINALLY, SANTA GROUNDED
The annual Jingle Bell Jump at the Anaheim, California, Town Square shopping center has been canceled. For years Santa Claus has parachuted from an airplane to promote Christmas at the shopping plaza but due to flight restrictions around nearby Disneyland planes can't fly low enough for the jump. Instead, Santa Claus will sit in a grounded hot air balloon. Disneyland and Disney World are the only American theme parks to have a Federal no fly restriction.
So if you plan to go to a Disney theme park for Christmas this year don't expect a traditional Christmas eve ride by Santa and his reindeer. I guess your Santa Claus will have to deliver your Christmas gifts in a cab!
Richard Parker is Minister of Students and Education at First Baptist Church in Russellville. You can e-mail him your comments at RParker@russellvilleFBC.org.